Lions coach Warren Gatland faces first hurdle as Toulon say no to early release of Gethin Jenkins

Warren Gatland has suffered his first significant setback as British and Irish
Lions head coach after Toulon insisted they would refuse to release any
selected players for the start of the tour of Australia if the French club
reach the final of the Top 14 next June.

First test: Warren Gatland faces his first challenge as Lions boss with the release of Gethin JenkinsPhoto: Getty

The hardline stance by Toulon coach Bernard Laporte is likely to result in Gatland overlooking the club’s British contingent, which includes Wales prop Gethin Jenkins and former England players Andrew Sheridan, Jonny Wilkinson, Steffon and Delon Armitage and Simon Shaw, for the 10-match tour of Australia.

Gatland, who is set to meet with Toulon this weekend, warned on Tuesday his whole squad must depart together on May 27, with injury replacements the only permitted late arrivals. The French Top 14 final is scheduled for June 1, the same day of the Lions’ first game against the Barbarians in Hong Kong.

Jenkins, widely regarded as one of the best loosehead props in the world game, and his fellow British players do not have specific release clauses in their contracts for availability for the Lions ahead of the end of the French domestic campaign.

“The international window begins on the weekend of June 9,” said Laporte. “Everything that happens before that is outside of the window.

“As far as freeing up Gethin, in principle, it’s a no. If he plays in the final, he will leave the day after, on Sunday June 2, but not before.

“We won't pay a player who has to go and play for the Lions at the most important time of our season. There is no specific clause in his contract about it.”

Gatland is also meeting with Bayonne and Perpignan this weekend, who have the likes of Mike Phillips, James Hook and Luke Charteris on their books, although those clubs are less likely to make the Top 14 final.

The Lions coach suggested on Tuesday that French-based players may have to take matters into their own hands, as Nathan Hines did in 2009 when he missed Perpignan's Top 14 final so he could go on the tour of South Africa.

"Ultimately it may be up to the players," Gatland said. "In 2009, Nathan Hines left Perpignan before a final because the Lions meant so much to him as a player.

“He said 'bugger playing in the French club final, I want to be part of a Lions tour'.

“As a management board and coaching staff we will have to discuss that because preparation is so tight.

“If it means players aren't available to get on the plane, it may rule them out.”